A Sound Foundation

In Maine, all of our birthing hospitals have newborn hearing screening programs. That means that most of the infants born in Maine have the opportunity to have their hearing screened before they leave the hospital. With hearing loss the most common birth defect this is a wonderful thing! Now, earlier than ever, infants can have their hearing screened, be referred to an audiologist, and diagnosed with a hearing loss, before any language delays occur!

With early and appropriate intervention, including hearing aids and family training, by 6 months of age, these children have the chance to learn spoken language at a rate similar to their hearing peers.

Once medical clearance has been obtained, hearing aids are selected based on child's thresholds as determined by diagnostic audiologist using electrophysiological measures. RECD measures are obtained on all fittings to verify appropriate fitting (DSL targets).

The cornerstone of the program is the belief that families need time to understand what they are going through before being committed to a particular hearing aid. With 95% of children born with hearing loss born to parents WITHOUT hearing loss, they probably have a lot to learn. The loaner program allows families the opportunity for monthly meetings with an audiologist or other member of the hear ME now! team (Auditory Verbal Therapist, Speech Language Pathologist, Teacher of the Deaf) to learn about hearing aids, ask questions, get comfortable with the device so they can take on the responsibility of an expensive, small electronic device.

By gaining the confidence to manipulate, care for, and judge the device, they are in turn giving their child the ability to succeed as an auditory learner. This educational process returns some control to the families so when they return to their dispensing audiologist, they are comfortable and confident in the decision making process and know how to be reliable observers and reporters during the trial period and beyond.

Some of the hearing aids that were fit through A Sound Foundation in 2005-2006:

• Oticon Sumo XP
• Sonovation Big Nano
• Phonak Aero 311
• Oticon Tego Pro
• Oticon GO Power

A Sound Foundation Loaner hearing aid program for infants and toddlers was made possible by grants from The Libra Foundation, The Bangor Savings Bank Foundation, WCSH6/Gannett Foundation and continued support from friends of hear ME now!

For more information contact:
Pamela Dawson, M.Ed.
Executive Director
hear ME now!
PO Box 896
Portland, ME 04104
Phone:(207) 688-4544